Valentino's New Tome

Next week's Valentino show in Paris will be the third ready-to-wear collection since founding designer Valentino Garavani's retirement, but for those nostalgic to relive his glory days, a new volume promises a fitting tribute. Valentino was originally created as a limited collectors' edition for $1,800, but Taschen will release the Unlimited Popular edition in May for $70. Celebrating the 45-year career of the designer, who dressed everyone from Audrey Hepburn and Jackie Kennedy to Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Lopez, the tome pays homage to his work through a multitude of images from his archives, including sketches, editorial shoots, advertisements, and self portraits. Edited by Armando Chitolina, former art director for Vogue Italia and L'Uomo Vogue, the book includes magazine and newspaper articles, a tribute by International Herald Tribune fashion editor Suzy Menkes, and interviews with the designer's closest friends and collaborators by Matt Tyrnauer. Fashion fanatics, take note: This perfect coffee-table topper is already available for pre-order on Amazon.com.